Multi-line underlining instrument

ABSTRACT

An instrument adapted to be manipulated with one stroke of the hand and thereby to selectively apply one or more lines to the surface of copy, and particularly useful in the underlining of printed or typewritten copy in the course of study and/or proofing thereof; the instrument comprising generally a bar carrying a multiplicity of extensible and retractable lining means selectively engageable with the surface of the copy; in one form depressible to successfully engage the copy; in another form depressible to selectively engage the copy; and the lining means adapted to be held inactive as required.

1 1 Oct. 2, 1973 1 MULTl-LINE UNDERLINING INSTRUMENT [76] Inventor: Alexander K. Stanton Ballard, 623

Midvale Avenue, Los Angeles, Calif. 90024 [22] Filed: Jan. 17, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 218,430

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 125,685, March 18,

1971, abandoned.

Primary ExaminerLouis R. Prince Assistant ExaminerCharles E. Phillips Attorney-William H. Maxwell [5 7] ABSTRACT An instrument adapted to be manipulated with one stroke of the hand and thereby to selectively apply one or more lines to the surface of copy, and particularly useful in the underlining of printed or typewritten copy in the course of study and/or proofing thereof; the instrument comprising generally a bar carrying a multiplicity of extensible and retractable lining means selectively engageable with the surface of the copy; in one form depressible to successfully engage the copy; in another form depressible to selectively engage the copy; and the lining means adapted to be held inactive as required.

6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures MULTI-LINE UNDERLINING INSTRUMENT This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 125,685, filed Mar. 18, 1971 and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND This multi-line underlining instrument is aimed at drawing two or more parallel lines with one stroke of the hand, especially to be used in underlining printed texts and for the purpose of saving time and effort as contrasted with separately repeated underlining. Heretofore, the separate underlining of each individual line of text copy has been a distraction, in addition to being a tedious time consuming occupation. A common holder for a multiplicity of lining means is not a solution to the problem inasmuch as certain lines must be omitted as circumstances require, and all of which varies from one group of lines to the next. For example, a single underlining must be possible, while any one of the multi-lining means must be extensible and/or retractable for engagement with the copy, and thus to these ends I provide extensible and/or retractable lining means with holding them selectively inactive or active as may be required.

FIELD OF INVENTION Multiple line instruments are available, but not for the purposes herein set forth wherein selected lines of texts are to be simultaneously underlined. For purpose of example, I have illustrated quadruple lining means in the embodiments shown, in which case underlining of a text is accomplished in one quarter the length of time. That is, as many as four lines can be drawn with one traverse of the hand, it being understood that other multiples of lining means can be employed as desired, for example six or eight such means (within practical limits). An object is, therefore, to provide a practical instrument for the selective engagement of spaced lining means with the surface of the text wherein the individual lines thereof are to be selectively underlined.

Multiple line making instruments are usually without means for selectively engaging and/or disengaging the lining means. That is, such instruments are normally needed to execute so many lines, no more and no less. However, it is often desired to omit lines of text when making a study thereof or in proofing the same. Therefore, it is an object of this invention to successively engage a multiplicity of lining means with the surface of the copy in order to underline only those lines desired. It is also an object of this invention to selectively engage a multiplicity of lining means with the surface of the copy in order to underline only those lines desired.

With the present invention the successively engageable lining means are each retractably engageable with the text copy, it being an object to control selectivity by the degree of depression applied to the space bar which carries the lining means.

With the present invention the selectively engageable lining means are extensibly engageable with the text copy, it being an object to control selectivity by depressing selected lining means into said lining engagement.

The holding or withholding of lining means in a text engageable position is required when multiple lining means are employed, it being an object of this invention to provide a latch means which maintains the selected conditioning of the instrument.

The spacing of text lines varies from printing to printing, and a form of the present invention includes an interline adjustment means, whereby the spacing of the line means is uniformly variable.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 6 of the drawings, two forms of the present invention are illustrated; FIG. 1 wherein the selection of underlining is accomplished by depressing the mounting bar B to successively engage the lining means Ll through L4; and FIG. 6 wherein the selection of underlining is accomplished by depressing individual lining means Ll through L4. In the FIG. 1 form, the individual lining means Ll through L4 are held inactive by latch means A as may be desired, independent of the successive engagement by means of depressing the instrument. In the FIG. 6 form, the individually depressed lining means Ll through L4 are held and maintained depressed by latch means A. As shown, the two embodiments of the invention differ in that the return means R in the first form operates to extend the lining means, while in the second form the means R is operative to retract the lining means. The interline adjustment C is shown in FIG. 5 and involves individual carriers Bl through B4 shiftably supported in the bar B and held equally spaced by means of spring members S adjusted by a space control D.

DRAWINGS The various objects and features of this invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of the typical preferred forms and applications thereof, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the multi-line underlining instrument (not depressed and operating to produce a single underline).

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are sectional views taken as indicated by lines 2-2, 3-3 and 44 on FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a plan section through a modified form of the instrument and illustrates the interline adjustment means that I provide.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing a second embodiment of the multi-line underlining instrument wherein the lining means thereof are individually actuable into operating position.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are sectional views taken as indicated by lines 7-7, 8-8 and 99 on FIG. 6.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The multi-line underlining instrument shown in FIG. I of the drawings involves a multiplicity of lining means Ll through L4 shiftably carried by a space bar B and held to successively stepped positions by return means R, and adapted to be locked in retracted positions by latch means A. The lining means Ll through L4 are writing shafts with points comprised of lead, quills, ballpoints, felts or other marking materials adapted to render a line when engaged to traverse the surface of paper or the like. As shown, the lining means Ll'- through L4 are, ball-point pens having a tube 10 of elongated cylindrical form and a tip 11 that rotatably supports a ball 12 exposed to ink carried within the tube and adapted to mark a surface disposed substantially normal (or within a limited angle) to the axis of and adjacent to the end of the tube.

The space bar B is in the nature of an implement adapted to be held and manipulated by hand. The space bar B is elongated and is held horizontally and parallel to the surface of the copy to be underlined. As shown, an end of the bar B is extended to form a handle 15, while the body thereof is punctuated by a series of equally spaced bores l6, 17, 18 and 19 parallel one with the other. The said bores are spaced a distance corresponding to the interline spacing of the copy to be underlined.

The lining means L1 is fixed in the form now under consideration, although it could depress as do the other lining means L2 through L4; the fixation of L1 forming a limit to depression of the space bar B. And in accordance with the successive engagement feature of this form, the tubes of the means Ll through L4 are successively longer, as shown, and each length is determined by a shoulder engageable with the bottom 21 of the space bar B. The tubes 10 are closed at their top ends by buttons 22 having stop sleeves 22' by which they are positioned and can be individually pulled for retraction.

The return means R act to extend the individual lining means L2 through L4, and are preferably in the form of compression springs 23 seated at the bottoms of recesses 24 in the bar B and each engageable with its respective shoulder 20 to yieldingly extend its associated lining means. The free length of said springs are also stepped for uniformity of action, as is indicated.

The latch means A is adapted to hold the lining means L2 through L4 which are pulled into a retracted position, and comprises a step in each lining means and a hook 26 disengageable with said steps. The steps 25 are shown as a peripheral groove below the shoulder 20 of each lining means, and the hook 26 is shown as a lip projecting from a retractable spring bar 27 anchored in the space bar at 28.

The instrument of FIGS. 1-4 is operated by simply pressing the writing points toward the copy to be underlined and by depressing the same sufficiently so as to engage the number of points desired. In the event that the underlining of any line is to be omitted, it is a simple matter to retract any one of the lining means L2 through L4 into a latched condition held by the spring biased hook 26.

The multi-line underlining instrument shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings involves a multiplicity of lining means L1 through L4 shiftably carried by a space bar B and held to retracted positions by return means R and adapted to be locked in extended (active) positions by latch means A.

. The space bar B is punctuated by a series of space bores l6, l7, l8 and 19, the same as the first described form; and the lining means Ll through L4 are each depressible through said bores. In accordance with the selectibly depressible feature of this form, the tubes 10 of the means Ll through L4 are of equal length as determined by the shoulder 20 engageable with the bottom 21 of the space bar B. The tubes 10 are closed at their top ends by the buttons 22 by which they can be individually depressed for extension.

The return means R acts to retract the individual lining means Ll through L4, and like the means R of the first described form are preferably in the form of compression springs 23 seated at the bottoms of recesses 24 in the bar B and each engageable with its respective shoulder 20 to yieldingly retract its respective lining means. In this form the free lengths of said springs are equal.

The latch means A, like that of the first form, are adapted to hold the lining means L1 through L4 which are actuated to a manually selected positions, in this instance advanced positions. As shown, the means A comprises the steps 25 in each lining means L1 through L4 and a hook 26 disengageable with said individual steps. The step 25 is shown as a peripheral groove below the shoulder 20 of each lining means, and the hook 26 is shown as a lip projecting from a retractable spring bar 27 anchored in the bar B at 28.

The instrument of FIGS. 6-9 is operated by simply pressing downward upon the buttons 22 of the lining means selected to render an underlining; and the lining means which are not so actuated remain retracted and ineffective.

Referring now to FIG. 5 of the drawings, the adjustment means C is provided to vary the interline space of the lining means LI through L4; and accordingly the said lining means are individually carried by selectively shiftable bodies B1 through B4. As shown, one of said bodies (B4) is incorporated in the space bar B while the said bar B provides guide means 30 controlling the relative longitudinal movement of the multiplicity of bodies. In the preferred form, the guide means 30 is comprised of opposed tracks 31 and 32 between which the bodies Bl through B3 are captured so as to slide freely relative to each other. Each body Bl through B4 has a bore l6, 17, 18 and 19 therethrough respectively, to carry the lining means L1 through L4 as hereinabove described; and in accordance with this invention the said bodies are spaced by equally compressible spring members, preferably coil springs 33 which are compressed by a screw 34 that draws the opposite end bodies B1 and B4 together and apart as may be required for the desired interline spacing.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a simple and practical time saving study aid for the underlining of text copy, whereby a multiplicity of underlinings are simultaneously rendered. The mode of operation of the two forms herein disclosed is essentially the same, in that the lining means Ll through L4 are shiftably carried by the space bar B and are selectively engageable with the surface to be underlined; it being a matter of choice whether to latch said lining means retracted or extended. Each form of the invention involves differences in the proportions thereof in order to gain the latch retraction or latch extension of the lining means. In the first form, FIGS. 1-4, the latch bar of means A is shallow so as to maintain the aligning means in the retracted position. In the second form, FIG. 6-9, the latch bar of means A is deep so as to maintain the lining means in an extended position. Said first form requires lining means and return means of stepped lengths, while the second form requires such means in identical form. The operation of the device is apparent by observation in each instance of use.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any modifications ar variations that may appear to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A multi-line underlining instrument for selectively underlining the spaced lines of printed texts and the like, and including, a space bar adapted to be disposed horizontally and manipulated over the surface of the text to be underlined, there being a multiplicity of spaced and parallel bores punctuated vertically through the space bar at intervals corresponding to the interline spacing of the lines of text, text lining means supported through each of said bores and projecting from the space bar to engage the surface of the text and at least one of which has a peripheral latch groove and is extensibly shiftable in its supporting bore to engage and render a line upon the text surface, and means mounted on said space bar selectively holding said at least one of said multiplicity of lining means against shifting and comprising a retractile latch bar with a lip biased thereby into engagement with said latch groove.

2. The multi-line underlining instruments as set forth in claim 1 wherein the retractile latch bar of the means selectively holding the said at least one lining means is a spring member yieldingly urging the said lip into groove engaging position.

3. The multi-line underlining instrument as set forth in claim 1 wherein, means yieldingly extends said at least one of said multiplicity of lining means, and wherein the lip of the retractile latch bar of the means selectively holding the said at least one lining means in engageable with the latch groove when said at least one lining means is withdrawn from its text surface engaging position.

4. The multi-line underlining instrument as set forth in claim 1, wherein, means yieldingly withdraws said at least one of said multiplicity of lining means from its text surface engaging position, and wherein the lip of the retractile latch bar of the means selectively holding the said at least one lining means is engageable with the latch groove when said at least one lining means is extended to its text surface engaging position.

5. A multi-line underlining instrument for selectively underlining the spaced lines of printed texts and the like, and including, a space bar adapted to be disposed horizontally and manipulated over the surface of the text to be underlined, there being a multiplicity of spaced and parallel bores punctuated vertically through the space bar at intervals corresponding to the interline spacing of the lines of text, text lining means supported through each of said bores and projecting from the space bar to engage the surface of the text, one endmost lining means is fixedly positioned in the space bar, each succeeding lining means starting from said endmost lining means being of increased stopped projected length with reference to the next preceding lining means, and extensibly shiftable in its supporting bore to successively engage and render a line upon the text surface, and spring means yieldingly urging each of extensibly shiftable lining means toward its text surface engaging position.

6. A multi-line underlining instrument for selectively underlining the spaced lines of printed texts and the like, and including, a space bar adapted to be disposed horizontally and manipulated over the surface of the text to be underlined, there being a multiplicity of spaced and parallel bores punctuated vertically through the space bar at intervals corresponding to the interline spacing of the lines of text, text lining means supported through each of said bores and each with a peripheral latch groove and projecting from the space bar to engage the surface of the text, the lining means adjacent the end lining means and each next adjacent lining means being of increased projected length and extensibly shiftable in its supporting bore to successively engage and render a line upon the text surface, spring means yieldingly retracting said lining means from said text surface engaging position, and latch means comprising a retractile latch bar with a lip biased thereby into engagement with said latch groove and selectively holding the said lining means extended when projected into their text surface engaging positions. 

1. A multi-line underlining instrument for selectively underlining the spaced lines of printed texts and the like, and including, a space bar adapted to be disposed horizontally and manipulated over the surface of the text to be underlined, there being a multiplicity of spaced and parallel bores punctuated vertically through the space bar at intervals corresponding to the interline spacing of the lines of text, text lining means supported through each of said bores and projecting from the space bar to engage the surface of the text and at least one of which has a peripheral latch groove and is extensibly shiftable in its supporting bore to engage and render a line upon the text surface, and means mounted on said space bar selectively holding said at least one of said multiplicity of lining means against shifting and comprising a retractile latch bar with a lip biased thereby into engagement with said latch groove.
 2. The multi-line underlining instruments as set forth in claim 1 wherein the retractile latch bar of the means selectively holding the said at least one lining means is a spring member yieldingly urging the said lip into groove engaging position.
 3. The multi-line underlining instrument as set forth in claim 1 wherein, means yieldingly extends said at least one of said multiplicity of lining means, and wherein the lip of the retractile latch bar of the means selectively holding the said at least one lining means in engageable with the latch groove when said at least one lining means is withdrawn from its text surface eNgaging position.
 4. The multi-line underlining instrument as set forth in claim 1, wherein, means yieldingly withdraws said at least one of said multiplicity of lining means from its text surface engaging position, and wherein the lip of the retractile latch bar of the means selectively holding the said at least one lining means is engageable with the latch groove when said at least one lining means is extended to its text surface engaging position.
 5. A multi-line underlining instrument for selectively underlining the spaced lines of printed texts and the like, and including, a space bar adapted to be disposed horizontally and manipulated over the surface of the text to be underlined, there being a multiplicity of spaced and parallel bores punctuated vertically through the space bar at intervals corresponding to the interline spacing of the lines of text, text lining means supported through each of said bores and projecting from the space bar to engage the surface of the text, one endmost lining means is fixedly positioned in the space bar, each succeeding lining means starting from said endmost lining means being of increased stopped projected length with reference to the next preceding lining means, and extensibly shiftable in its supporting bore to successively engage and render a line upon the text surface, and spring means yieldingly urging each of extensibly shiftable lining means toward its text surface engaging position.
 6. A multi-line underlining instrument for selectively underlining the spaced lines of printed texts and the like, and including, a space bar adapted to be disposed horizontally and manipulated over the surface of the text to be underlined, there being a multiplicity of spaced and parallel bores punctuated vertically through the space bar at intervals corresponding to the interline spacing of the lines of text, text lining means supported through each of said bores and each with a peripheral latch groove and projecting from the space bar to engage the surface of the text, the lining means adjacent the end lining means and each next adjacent lining means being of increased projected length and extensibly shiftable in its supporting bore to successively engage and render a line upon the text surface, spring means yieldingly retracting said lining means from said text surface engaging position, and latch means comprising a retractile latch bar with a lip biased thereby into engagement with said latch groove and selectively holding the said lining means extended when projected into their text surface engaging positions. 